Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 17, 2026
Breast Milk Enhances Growth of Enteroids: An Ex Vivo Model of Cell Proliferation
Published on: February 15, 2018
Growth and fat-free mass gain in preterm infants after discharge: a randomized controlled trial
Paola Roggero1, Maria L Giannì, Orsola Amato
1NICU, Fondazione Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy. paola.roggero@unimi.it
Insights
A nutrient-enriched formula improved head circumference and fat-free mass in preterm infants adequate for gestational age (AGA) after hospital discharge. Small for gestational age (SGA) infants showed no significant differences in growth or body composition.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal nutrition
- Pediatric growth and development
- Body composition analysis
Background:
- Preterm infants often experience altered growth trajectories.
- Post-discharge nutrition is critical for optimizing neurodevelopment and body composition.
- Differentiating growth patterns based on intra- and extrauterine development is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of a nutrient-enriched formula on growth and body composition in preterm infants.
- To compare outcomes between infants fed a standard term formula versus a nutrient-enriched formula.
- To assess if intra- and extrauterine growth patterns (AGA vs. SGA) influence the response to enriched feeding.
Main Methods:
- Randomized controlled trial involving 207 preterm infants categorized as AGA or SGA.
- Infants received either a term formula (A) or a nutrient-enriched formula (B) until 6 months corrected age.
- Anthropometric measurements and body composition (air displacement plethysmography) were assessed at multiple time points.
Main Results:
- Higher protein intake was observed in the nutrient-enriched formula group (B).
- No significant differences in weight or length SD scores were found between groups for AGA or SGA infants.
- AGA infants receiving the nutrient-enriched formula showed increased head circumference and lower fat mass at 6 months; SGA infants had no significant body composition differences.
Conclusions:
- Nutrient-enriched formula consumption post-discharge benefits head circumference growth in AGA preterm infants.
- Fat-free mass gain was enhanced in AGA infants fed the nutrient-enriched formula.
- The study highlights the importance of tailored nutrition for specific growth patterns in preterm infants.
Objective:
To investigate whether the consumption of a nutrient-enriched formula after hospital discharge determines different growth and weight gain composition in preterm infants according to intra- and extrauterine growth pattern.
Methods:
Two hundred seven preterm infants were randomized at term-corrected age to receive treatment A (term formula) or B (nutrient-enriched formula) up to 6 months of corrected age, using 2 computer-generated randomization lists, 1 for adequate for gestational age (AGA) and 1 for small for gestational age (SGA) infants. Infants were weaned according to our clinical practice after 6 months' corrected age. Anthropometric parameters and body composition by an air displacement plethysmography system were assessed at term and 1, 3, and 6 months' corrected age. Anthropometric parameters were also assessed at 12 months.
Results:
Protein intakes were higher in infants receiving treatment B than in infants receiving treatment A at each study point. There were no differences between the feeding groups in weight and length SD scores in either the AGA and SGA group through the study. The mean head circumference values were higher in AGA infants receiving treatment B than in AGA infants receiving treatment A at 6 and 12 months, whereas at 6 months, the percentage of fat mass was lower. No difference in body composition was detected among SGA infants through the study.
Conclusions:
This randomized controlled trial demonstrates the beneficial effect of the consumption of a nutrient-enriched formula after hospital discharge by AGA infants both in terms of head circumference growth and fat-free mass gain.
